Williams is convinced that a healthy rivalry between Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will strengthen the team
Williams team principal James Vowles is convinced that there will be "no politics" between new F1 teammates Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in 2025.
Carlos Sainz joined the team after leaving Ferrari to make way for the arrival of Lewis Hamilton and will partner with Alex Albon to strengthen Williams’ driver lineup for the upcoming season.
Since his arrival at Williams, Alex Albon has largely dominated his teammates, but Carlos Sainz, a four-time Grand Prix winner, could threaten the Thai driver’s position as team leader.
James Vowles is not worried.
However, James Vowles is not worried about their collaboration, stating that both drivers do not have an ounce of politics in them.
One of the great aspects with Carlos and Alex is that neither of them has any politics, they don’t have a political bone in their bodies. They simply want the car to be fast and wish to give the best of us in this environment, the Briton said.
They both understand the challenges of 2025, but the main thing is to focus on what we can achieve together in 2026. What I expect are ideas that confirm where we are performing well while moving in the direction we believe is right.
James Vowles also expects that both drivers show leadership and give everything on the track.
Alex Albon encouraged Williams to recruit Carlos Sainz
James Vowles praised Alex Albon’s leadership qualities and revealed that he played an active role in recruiting Carlos Sainz when the opportunity arose.
« What I like about Alex is that he’s a leader », he explained. « When things get tough, he moves forward, no matter the circumstances, and revitalizes the team. He’s the one who encouraged us to bring in Carlos, because he’s not afraid of competition; he wants us to succeed. »
James Vowles also confirmed that Sainz and Albon will have the freedom to fight on track, while stressing the importance of a healthy rivalry to advance Williams.
« What I see with Carlos is that he fights hard, yes, but also cleanly. The race is very clean. If one is faster than the other, they can fight », he specified.
« However, there will be times when I will say: you cannot. We must bring this result home, because the result is more important than your individual position. »
For James Vowles, a clean and motivating rivalry between two talented drivers is a key to getting the most out of them and helping Williams progress up the grid in the coming years.
